Rhus hirta certainly ranks among the most distinctive
and easiest species to identify. The dense, spreading hairs of the large
diameter twigs are unique, even during winter after the leaves have
fallen. The large compound, alternate leaves with numerous leaflets
and the dense terminal clusters of hairy red fruits are also easy to
recognize. Wood of well developed stems is yellow. The short, spreading,
somewhat zig-zagged growth form
is also easily recognizeable. The plants form conspicuous
clones with the stems tallest in the center and becoming progressively
smaller approaching the outer edges. It is one of the first trees to
change color in the Fall and the leaves are bright red. It may have
a shrubby growth form in many cases, but large individuals may reach
10 meters in height with trunks to 20 cm in diameter.

The main range of Rhus hirta extends from Nova
Scotia to eastern Minnesota and Iowa, east to West Virginia and Pennsylvania,
with scattered populations as far south as Tennessee and North Carolina.
It is widely distributed in Wisconsin and is commonly found in abandoned
fields, clearings and rights-of-way. This species was long known as Rhus typhina L. and many botany books will still use that name.